Gravity feed product dispenser

ABSTRACT

A motion-resistant system for displaying and dispensing articles has a flange means that is capable of flexing upward or downward along a horizontal axis and at least one compartment for holding article or products therein. A preferred embodiment has at least one divider attached to a center wall and the flange means attached releasably to a front face of a bottom support, wherein the flange means extends substantially beneath the front face of the bottom support, so as to permit the dispenser to abut the a store shelf and resist movement upon contact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an improved product dispenser. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a gravity feed product dispenserpreferably made of corrugated board or the like, particularly adaptedfor residing on a store shelf, which may be filled with product andshipped to retailers for immediate setup and display.

[0002] In order to maximize efficiency and cost, it is desirable for aproduct manufacturer or distributor of product (such as pain reliever orthe like) to be able to prepare a product display and dispenser whichcan be easily assembled, with flexibility to accommodate various productsizes, and to ship the dispenser, preferably pre-loaded with product, tothe retailer. It is further desirable to provide a display dispenserwhich the retailer can receive, and set up with a minimal number ofsteps, so that the product can be made available to the customer asquickly and as conveniently as possible. In addition, as the dispenserof the invention is intended to reside on a store shelf, it is desirableto provide a configuration which resists shifting of the dispenser onthe shelf during use. Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide adispenser which has broad space available for graphics, whilesimultaneously masking the product storage area, so that even as productis being depleted, the display retains a ‘full’ appearance as productdrops to the dispensing area by way of gravity.

[0003] The device of U.S. Pat. No. 1,663,088 requires a hinged frontflap in order to access the products located therein. Due to its slenderand vertical nature, the device may be easily tipped over upon contact,thereby losing its high visibility to customers and forcing the retailerto reposition the device to its original position or to an entirelydifferent one.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 1,904, 760 discloses a receptacle for dispensingproduct, wherein the receptacle has an open front and rear sides.Moreover, a cover must be removed in order to fill the dispenser, makingthe task of loading or reloading the receptacle an inefficient one. Dueto its open front and rear sides, product may accidentally be jarredfrom the receptacle if the receptacle is tipped.

[0005] The dispenser in U.S. Pat. No. 1,519,825 is substantially encasedin glass, thereby creating danger to people handling the dispenser andincreasing costs for manufacturing and packaging. Furthermore, thevertical nature of the dispenser makes it prone to tipping over oncontact. Hence, the ideal position for this dispenser is against a wallto prevent tipping. Since this position is at the rear of the shelf, theproduct loses effective visibility because customers have to strain tofind the product.

[0006] The instant invention solves the deficiencies stated in the priorart, while providing improvements as stated herein.

SUMMARY

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention provides for a productdispenser generally in the form of a box, having a top being or capableof being at least partially opened, a front wall having a lower openingalong a lower edge thereof, a center wall residing generally parallel toand between the front wall and a rear wall, a bottom support extendingperpendicular to and forward from the center wall adjacent the lower endthereof. The area between the center wall and the front wall is wherethe product is retained for dispensing, and can be known as the productstorage area. The product storage area preferably has at least one, andpreferably a series of spaced-apart vertical dividers, extending fromthe center wall to the front wall, forming a plurality of compartmentsfor retaining product. The dividers may be removably affixed at variouslocations within the product storage area to provide flexibility incustomizing the compartment sizes to the particular products beingcontained therein.

[0008] The dividers extend downward for a sufficient length past anupper edge of the lower opening so as to retain the products withintheir respective compartments until removed by the user. The loweropening, bounded above by the lower edge of the front wall, and below bybottom support, acts as a dispensing window for the products. As productis removed, at the bottom of each compartment through the dispensingwindow, the product above drops down by gravity to the bottom support toreplace the removed product.

[0009] A particular feature of the invention is the support flangemeans, extending outwardly from the front edge of the bottom support.The flange means is preferably a unitary flange member runningsubstantially along the length of the bottom support. In addition, theflange means may be one or a series of spaced-apart flange member. Theflange means is preferably flexed about its connection with the bottomsupport, such that in use it may be folded downwardly to abut, andeventually be secured against, a front-facing wall portion of the bottomsupport. However, as the purpose of the flange means is to provideresistance against movement of the dispenser with respect to the shelf,a sufficient resistance to rotation about its fold axis, even withoutbeing secured to the bottom support, may also be provided as analternative arrangement. In practice, the flange means may also be aseparate from the bottom support, so long as it is secured to the frontface of the bottom support. However, for ease of manufacture andinstallation, a unitary flange and bottom support is advantageous.

[0010] The flange means should extend outward to a degree, such thatwhen folded down against the front face of the bottom support, theflange means extends beyond the bottom edge of the front face of thebottom support, and therefore abuts the front of the store shelf when inuse. The degree of extension beyond the bottom of the front face of thebottom support (or, beyond the bottom surface of the dispenser itself)should be generally the thickness of the store shelf. However, theguiding factor should be that the flange means should act, incombination with the store shelf, to resist movement of the dispenserwith respect to the shelf when the user is retrieving product from thedispenser.

[0011] In order to maximize the retaining ability of the flange means,it is preferable that it be secured to the front face of the bottomsupport by a securing means, such as an adhesive, e.g. double-sidedtape, or any other suitable means. In a preferred embodiment, thesecuring means, such as double-sided adhesive tape, interlocking tab andslot arrangements, or hook-and-loop fasteners, are provided on one orboth of the facing surfaces of the underside of the flange means and thefront face of the bottom support.

[0012] A further feature of the invention resides in the flexibility ofconfiguration with respect to the size and arrangement of the verticalproduct storage compartments. The width of the vertical compartments maybe varied to accommodate differing product sizes from compartment tocompartment; or simply to allow the dispenser to accommodate a differentproduct size over all. In this regard, the securing means for holdingthe vertical dividers in place are provided to allow this flexibility ofconfiguration. In a preferred embodiment, a tab and slot arrangement isused wherein the vertical dividers are provided with tabs extendingrearwardly for insertion into corresponding slots on the front face ofthe center wall. By providing a series of slots located along the lengthof the center wall, the location of which are preferably determinedaccording to various expected product sizes, each dispenser can beassembled to accommodate a particular size or combination of differentlysized product.

[0013] In order to easily assemble the device to provide for the desiredslot arrangement, the invention contemplates a novel arrangement ofslots that corresponds to the number of compartments for dispensingproducts. In a preferred embodiment, a primary set of slots, arranged ina row, may be provided for one common configuration of slots in theupper portion of the center wall. A secondary set, or row, of slots,corresponding to a different spacing of the dividers, may additionallybe provided in the lower portion of the center wall. The primary andsecondary series of slots are arranged such that the dividers areuniversal, in that they will work in conjunction with both the upper andlower rows of slots in either an upward or downward orientation. Thevertical dividers are preferably provided with a tab located off-centerby a set distance, and the primary and secondary (i.e. lower and upper)rows of slots are situated off-center (above or below center) by thesame set distance, such that the tab will reside within either a primaryor secondary slot, depending on the upward or downward orientation ofthe divider.

[0014] If it were attempted to place an increasing number of slotswithin a single row in the center wall, the structural integrity of thecenter wall would be compromised. The inventive arrangement allows for adoubling of the number of slots provided in the center wall. As theseveral dividers may be placed in either up or down orientation within asingle desired configuration, the number of possible configurations isgreatly increased, as both the first and second row of slots isavailable. A further advantage of this arrangement is that when thedevice is being assembled, the distinction between slots correspondingto a first arrangement of dividers are readily distinguished from thosecorresponding to a second arrangement, so that the first and second rowsmay be configured to correspond with first and second commonconfigurations.

[0015] These and other objects of the invention are best understood andmore apparent when the detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings are read in conjunction with each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention situated on a shelf.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an isolated view of the bottom trim and the flange in adetached state.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the plurality of dividersinserted into the slots of the center wall.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of another embodiment showing aseries of slots in the center wall.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a side view of a vertical divider.

[0022]FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the invention showing a frontperspective view of the vertical dividers extending downward wheninserted into a primary series of slots.

[0023]FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the invention showing a frontperspective view of the vertical dividers extending upward when insertedinto a secondary series of slots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, a product dispenser is generally in the formof a box, having a top (14), a front wall (2), a center wall (12), arear wall (1), bottom support (6), and a flange means (8). The dispenseris preferably made of a material such as cardboard, so as to make itcompact and lightweight. Due to the substantial surface area, both thefront wall (2) and the flange means (8) are especially suitable forgraphics pertaining to the product or article being dispensed.

[0025] The top (14) substantially covers the dispenser, extending towardthe front wall (2), the front wall (2) extending downward has a loweropening (4) along its lower edge (9). The top (14) is situatedperpendicular and adjacent to an upper edge (18) of a center wall (12),wherein the center wall (12) resides generally parallel to and betweenthe front wall (2) and the rear wall (1). The area between the centerwall (12) and the front wall (2) is where the product is retained fordispensing, and can be called a product storage area. The lower opening(4), bounded above by the lower edge (9) of the front wall (2), andbelow by the bottom support (6), acts as a dispensing window for theproducts. The bottom support (6) extends perpendicular to and forwardfrom the lower end (5) of the center wall (12). As product is removed,at the bottom of each compartment through the dispensing window, theproduct above drops down by gravity to the bottom support (6) to replacethe removed product. Because the front wall of the dispenser is openonly at the bottom, dispensing region, the product storage is kept fromview. Therefore, even as the product is being depleted, the dispenseravoids the look of an empty shelf, since the next product article dropsdown via gravity to the dispensing region.

[0026] Extending outwardly from the front edge (11) of the bottomsupport (6), the flange means (8) is preferably a unitary flange memberrunning substantially along the length of the bottom support (6). It iscontemplated that the flange means (8) may be one or a series of aspaced-apart flange member. The flange means (8) is preferably flexedabout its connection with the bottom support (6), such that in use itmay be folded downwardly to abut, and eventually secure against, afront-facing wall portion (16) of the bottom support (6) as shown inFIG. 2. In such an embodiment, the flange means may also be folded uptowards the front wall, for ease of shipping. Upon receipt, the retailerthen unfolds and engages the flange as above. It is further contemplatedthat the flange means (8) may be separated from the bottom support (6),so long as it is secured to the front face (16) of the bottom support(6). However, for ease of manufacture and installation, a unitary flangeand bottom support is advantageous.

[0027] In order to maximize the retaining ability of the flange means,it is preferable that it be secured to the front face of the bottomsupport by a securing means, such as an adhesive, e.g. double-sidedtape, or any other suitable means. In a preferred embodiment, thesecuring means, such as double-sided adhesive tape, interlocking tab andslot arrangements, or hook-and-loop fasteners, are provided on one orboth of the facing surfaces of the underside of the flange means and thefront face of the bottom support.

[0028] In its preferred embodiment, the dispenser is designed to be thelength of a standard commercial shelf as shown in FIG. 2. The dispenseris preferably in the form of a box comprising a top (14) having an upperopening (7), the flange means (8), and a divider (10), wherein at leastone divider (10) partitions the product storage area forming a pluralityof compartments for retaining product. It is contemplated that thenumber of compartments may be as few as one, in the absence of adivider, or as many as desired by the manufacturer. The size of theupper opening (7) is defined by the distance between the front wall (2)and the center wall (12). The upper opening (7) is contemplated to actas a receiving means for the products to be placed into the productstorage area for dispensing. The product storage area is further capableof being replenished once the products have been depleted.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, the dividers (10) are further contemplatedto be preferably a series of spaced-apart vertical dividers, extendingdownwardly for a sufficient length past an upper edge of the loweropening so as to retain the products within their respectivecompartments until removed by a user. The dividers attach releasably tothe center wall (12), for one or both are provided with a securing means(9, 20), such as an adhesive tape, interlocking tab and slotarrangement, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like.

[0030] When the dispenser is set on a store shelf as shown in FIG. 2,the flange means (8) should extend outward to a degree, such that whenfolded down against the front-facing wall portion (16) of the bottomsupport (6), the flange means (8) extends beyond the bottom edge of thefront-facing wall portion (16) of the bottom support (6), and thereforeabuts the front of the store shelf when in use. The degree of extensionbeyond the bottom of the front-facing wall portion (16) of the bottomsupport (6), or beyond the bottom surface of the dispenser itself,should be generally the thickness of the store shelf. However, theguiding factor should be that the flange means (8) should act, incombination with the store shelf, to resist movement of the dispenserwith respect to the shelf when the user is retrieving product from thedispenser.

[0031] In order to maximize the retaining ability of the flange means(8), it is preferable that the flange means (8) be secured to thefront-facing wall portion (16) of the bottom support (6) by a thirdsecuring means (22), such as an adhesive or any other suitable means asshown in FIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment, the third securing means(22), such as adhesive tape, interlocking tab and slot arrangements, orhook-and-loop fasteners are provided on one or both of the facingsurfaces of the underside of the flange means (8) and the front-facingwall portion (16) of the bottom support (6).

[0032] Another contemplated embodiment of the invention is shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, wherein the first securing means is preferably a tab (20)and a second securing means is a corresponding slot (9). The actualnumber of slots and their placement thereof along the length of thecenter wall is preferably determined according to the number of verticalcompartments and expected product sizes. In a preferred embodiment (FIG.5), a series of slots, called a primary series of slots, is locatedalong an upper portion along the length of the center wall (12). Asecondary series of slots is optionally located along a lower portionalong the length of the center wall (12). The primary and secondaryseries of slots (9) are arranged equidistant from a center line (30) ata set distance x, such that the divider (10) in either an upward ordownward orientation extends substantially along the front wall (2) toretain products in the compartments contained therein. It should beunderstood that the ‘center line’ need not be the precise center of thecenter wall (12). Rather, the center line (30) should be chosen inconjunction with the size of the divider being used in order to insureproper downward reach of the divider. The vertical divider (10) includesa tab (20) located off-center relative to the length of the verticaldivider (10) as shown in FIG. 6. The tab (20) is such that it willreside within any slot (9) of the primary or secondary series of slots,depending on the upward or downward orientation of the divider. Thedivider (10) is preferably constructed such that an upper end (24) ofthe divider (10) is equivalent in length to that of a lower end (23) ofthe divider (10), the importance of which is evidenced below. FIG. 7shows that when the tab (20) of divider (10) resides in a slot (9)located in the primary series of slots, the divider (10) is preferablysituated in a downward orientation and partially out of view by way ofthe front wall (2). FIG. 7 further shows the lower end (23) of thedivider (10) visible extending downward from the lower edge (9) of thefront wall (2). When the tab (20) of the divider (10) resides in a slot(9) located in the secondary series of slots as shown in FIG. 8, thedivider (10) is situated in an upward orientation revealing the upperend (24) of the divider extending downward from beyond a lower edge (9)of the front wall (2). It is further contemplated that theaforementioned embodiment can operate in either the absence or presenceof the flange means.

[0033] In a further embodiment, before the dispenser is set on the storeshelf, the dispenser can be sent to the retailer packaged with theproduct or articles pre-loaded. The compact design permits easytransport and efficient packaging, wherein the flange means (8) ispreferably folded toward the front wall (2) thereby covering the loweropening of the dispenser and exposing the underside of the flange means(8). Once received, the retailer just has to situate the dispenser onthe edge of the store shelf and move the flange means (8), so that it isflush with the front wall (2) and secured to the front-facing wallportion (16) of the bottom support (6).

[0034] The aforementioned embodiments are meant to be illustrative only,and are not meant to be limiting. Of course, many changes in detail orconstruction can be made without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1. A system for displaying and dispensing articles, comprising a boxhaving a top, a front wall having a lower opening along a lower edgethereof, a center wall residing generally parallel to and between thefront wall and a rear wall, a bottom support extending perpendicular toand forward from the center wall adjacent a lower end thereof, and aflange means extending generally outward and along the length adjacentthe bottom support, such that when in use the box is abutted against astore shelf by the flange means, the flange means being attachable to afront face of the bottom support by a securing means, wherein the flangemeans extends beyond a bottom edge of a front face of the bottomsupport, such that the box is capable of resisting motion upon contact.2. The system of claim 1, wherein the box further comprises at least onedivider extending from the center wall to the front wall forming aplurality of vertical compartments.
 3. The system of claim 2, whereinthe at least one divider extends downward to sufficient distance so asto be able to retain products residing within the compartments when inuse.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one divider extendsupward to sufficient distance so as to be able to retain productsresiding within the compartments when in use.
 5. The system of claim 2,wherein the front wall has at least one slot, and wherein the at leastone divider comprises a tab extending rearward and conforming with theat least one slot.
 6. The system of claim 2, comprising a plurality ofdividers, each comprising a first securing means, the front face of thecenter wall further comprising a plurality of second securing meansarranged in a row along a length of the center wall, structured tosecuringly interact with the first securing means to thereby retain thedividers to the front face of the center wall.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein the plurality of second securing means are arranged in two rowsalong the length of the center wall, a first upper row located at a setdistance above a chosen line running along the length of the centerwall, a second upper row located at the set distance below the chosenline, the first securing means being located at the set distance from ahorizontal center line of the divider.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinthe first securing means is a tab, and the second securing means is aslot structured to conform to and retain the tab therein.
 9. A systemfor displaying and dispensing articles, comprising a box having a top, afront wall having a lower opening along a lower edge thereof, a centerwall residing generally parallel to and between the front wall and arear wall, a bottom support extending perpendicular to and forward fromthe center wall adjacent a lower end thereof, a plurality of dividers,each comprising a first securing means, the front face of the centerwall further comprising a plurality of second securing means arranged ina row along a length of the center wall, structured to securinglyinteract with the first securing means to thereby retain the dividers tothe front face of the center wall.
 10. The system of claim 9, whereinthe plurality of second securing means are arranged in two rows alongthe length of the center wall, a first upper row located at a setdistance above a chosen line running along the length of the centerwall, a second upper row located at the set distance below the chosenline, the first securing means being located at the set distance from ahorizontal center line of the divider.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the first securing means is a tab, and the second securing meansis a slot structured to conform to and retain the tab therein.